Posts Tagged ‘national defense’

Breaking News from D.C. – Vote Alert on Gitmo Detainees

Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, upon capture.
Image via Wikipedia

My D.C. sources say:

Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Jim Webb (D-VA) have an amendment to an appropriations bill which would prohibit any federal funding to bring 9/11 co-conspirators like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to the United States for trial in civilian courts. The idea is to return those cases to the military commissions Congress created on a bipartisan basis, where they belong, and keep detainees out of the United States.

The problems with trying terror detainees in civilian courts are well documented. Such trials have inadvertently leaked sensitive material, tipped off terrorists to a communications link, and even unintentionally provided intelligence information to Osama bin Laden. Last month former attorney general Michael Mukasey wrote an excellent op-ed for The Wall Street Journal explaining why his experience has shown civilian courts to be the wrong venue for such trials. Sen. McConnell also explained the necessity of this amend

150 family members of 9/11 victims have written a letter to the Senate urging the passage of this amendment.  They write in part, “We adamantly oppose prosecuting the 9/11 conspirators in Article III courts, which would provide them with the very rights that may make it possible for them to escape the justice which they so richly deserve.”

Keep an eye out for a vote on this amendment later today.

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